Buttimeconstraintsalsoaddedtothepressure.Eachartifacthadtobemeticulouslypositioned,withadjustmentstolighting,placement,andoverallpresentationmadetoensureacohesivenarrative.Thesefinedetailsrequiredcountlessroundsofrefinement.
Zhangemphasizedthatthepurposeofshowcasinghistoryisnotjusttoreflectonthepastbutinspirethepresentandfuture.Recognizingtheinterestsofyoungaudiences,theexhibitionincorporatesmodernelementssuchasinteractiveinstallationsandLEDdisplays.Thesefeaturesbringasenseofmovementandlifetotheexhibition,whiledigitalpanelsandvideosdelveintothestoriesbehindtheartifacts.
Spanning2,200squaremeters,theexhibitionisdividedintofivesections,eachrepresentingadifferentstageintheculturalandhistoricaldevelopmentoftheSilkRoadsandtheGrandCanal.
TheexhibitionbeginswithanexplorationoftheearlyconnectionsbetweenculturesintheNeolithicperiod.ItmovesontotheflourishingtraderoutesoftheHanDynasty(206BC-AD220)andtheinterplayofoverlandandseanetworksduringtheTangDynasty(618-907).ItalsohighlightsthedynamicevolutionofmaritimecommercefromtheSongDynasty(960-1279)totheOpiumWarsinthemid-19thcentury,beforeconcludingwithalookathowtheBeltandRoadInitiativecontinuesthislegacyinthemodernera.
"Visitinganexhibitionislikewatchingaplay—differentpeoplemayhavedifferentinterpretations.Ourgoalistopresenthistoryinitsmostauthenticandengagingform,invitingeveryvisitortodiscovertheirownconnectiontothepast,"Zhangsaid.